Terry Emmens Interviewed by Buffalo News

Terry Emmens, elder law and Medicaid planning team leader and partner, was recently quoted in the Buffalo News article “How to Keep Nursing Home Costs From Devouring Your Life Savings.”

“Emmens says that when spouses or other family members consider protecting assets they often express concerns over what type of nursing home will admit someone on Medicaid.

“They ask if their spouse or their mother or father will get less care because they are legally poor and now on Medicaid,” Emmens said. “The answer is nursing homes cannot treat people differently whether the government pays or they are private-pay.”

Nursing homes rated low in performance by the federal government often have larger percentages of Medicaid residents compared to the higher-ranked facilities. But Emmens said the law prohibits facilities from discriminating against Medicaid recipients.

“I place people in nursing homes every single day. They have no money, they are Medicaid eligible, and these homes are four- and five-star rated homes,” Emmens said.”